Introduction to dolphins

Dolphins are very intelligent and they seem to be well loved by humans. This aquatic mammal has been able to fascinate us in a variety of ways. They are curious, form strong bonds within their pod, and they have been known to help humans in a variety of circumstances including rescues and with fishing.

There are 43 different species of dolphins that have been recognized. 38 of them are marine dolphins which are those that we are the most aware of and 5 of them are river dolphins. It can be very interesting to look at each of these species uniquely versus dolphins as a whole.

They are very entertaining due to the leaps that they make out of the water. Some of them leap up to 30 feet in the air as they do so. They have to come to the surface to for water at different intervals to get air. This can be from 20 seconds to 30 minutes between when they get air. The body of the dolphin is grayish blue and the skin is very sensitive to human touch and to other elements that could be in the water.

Even though dolphins have 100 teeth, they don’t use them for eating. They do use them to get the fish though and then they swallow them. They can consume up to 30 pounds fish per day. They usually work as a team in their pod to get the school of fish surrounded and balled up. From there, they can plow through the middle and eat plenty as they do so.

They take turns doing this so that all that participated get to dine on the fish. This is just one of the many different types of feeding strategies that they may take part in. They do what is necessary to get the food for the pod members. It can include jumps, zig zag patterns, circles, and a combination of efforts to get the job done.

“Dolphins have been interacting with humans for as long as we have known of their existence”.

Types of Dolphins

Dolphins Species.

Most of the species of dolphins live in saltwater but there are some that are able to do well in the freshwater locations. They are mainly found in the freshwater of the Amazon River. They are easily seen by humans as they tend to stick to the swallow locations of the water.

It is amazing the difference in size of the various species of dolphins. The larger ones can weigh about 11 tons and be close to 30 feet long. The smaller ones are about 90 pounds and 4 feet long. Between those two spectrums you will find all weights and lengths. The species as well as their location play a huge role in their overall size.

Dolphins for Kids

Dolphin Evolution.

Even though we have plenty of information about dolphins today, there are plenty of questions that remain about their past. There are theories of evolution and even some fossil remains that have surfaced to give clues. It is believed that millions of years ago the dolphins were much smaller than they are today. Many experts also believe that echolocation is a result of the evolution process. Only time and advances in technology though will help us to get definite answers about the evolution of dolphins.

Dolphin Conservation.

The future is at risk for the various species of dolphins though due to habitat destruction, problems finding food, pollutants in the water, and even injuries or death due to getting tangled up in fishing nets or hitting boats in the water. There are conservation efforts in place out there to help protect them so that they can have a very good future. The average lifespan for a dolphin in the wild is 17 years. However, some have been documented to live to the age of 50!

Dolphin Anatomy.

The body of a dolphin is designed to help them move through the water quickly and without exerting huge amounts of energy. They rely on their pectoral fins and the fluke (tail) to help them navigate through the water.

Dolphins have very good vision, and they are able to see what is around them both in the water and when they are above the surface of it. They have excellent hearing too, with the ability to hear about 10 times better than humans. The sense of smell isn’t well developed for them though. The sense of touch is very sensitive for dolphins and they use it for bonding within their pods. They rely on a combination of their senses to avoid danger, to find food, and to socialize.

Dolphin Echolocation.

Through extensive research, echolocation has been identified as a key element of dolphin life. It allows them to communicate in the water by identifying sound waves. It is a complex ability that stems from the melon that is located in the head of a dolphin. All dolphin species have a blowhole.

Dolphins have been interacting with humans for as long as we have known of their existence. During this time, their more dangerous predator and the only one that have dramatically reduced dolphin population is the human.

Even though we all agree that Dolphins are wonderful creatures that seem to be extremely intelligent and friendly, we still are a huge threat for dolphins. This site is a tribute for dolphins, those great animals which everybody likes, but most know so little about them.

A deeper knowledge and further information about dolphins is definitively the first step towards better conservation and understanding of these wonderful mammals. Besides, the information is the weapon and our little contribution to fight dolphin killing and habitat damage.

Trying to provide unique and different information about Dolphins, we have classified our articles into singular and uncommon categories like “dolphin way of life”, which includes the information about daily dolphin activities, for example “what do dolphins eat?” or “social relationships”, among others.

Regarding the main survival activities, you will find detailed information about dolphin reproduction, the way they hunt and how they communicate. At the anatomic level, a detailed analysis about the technique called echolocation, their basic anatomy and physiology.

The section related to humans is devoted to the relationship between dolphins and humans, including articles which describe human-dolphin encounters like the incredible rescues of humans by dolphins and how dolphins have impacted our culture reflecting this influence in movies, books and many other ways of expression that have existed for centuries and were recorded in ancient cultures at the extend that they were included in Greek and Roman mythology.

Finally, the section dolphins for kids has been developed thinking in little kids, trying to provide them with basic information about dolphins through educative activities like puzzles, coloring pages or how to draw a dolphin with the idea to make kids aware of dolphin conservation in a funny way.